Afternoon Rhapsody – Chapter One (part two)

Bandicoot Cove: The Wedding released on Tuesday, and to celebrate, Lexxie Couper, Sami Lee and I have posted the first chapters of our stories on the Down Under Diva blog, and on our own blogs.

We’ve each shared the first half of our first chapters on the Diva blog, and placed the rest of our chapters on our own blog. So, for your reading pleasure, please find below the conclusion of Afternoon Rhapsody’s Chapter One:

Brody hadn’t released her hand. Instead he stared at it as though he’d never seen a hand before. Or maybe he was staring at the white band of flesh around her ring finger. She knew she stared at it a lot. Perhaps to the point of obsession. Not long ago a simple gold ring had covered it, but she’d removed that when the divorce papers arrived. No point wearing it anymore, now was there?

“I am,” he answered eventually. “Well, kind of. I came for a wedding. So I guess you could say I’m here with lots of people.”

“Well, isn’t that a coincidence? I’m here for a wedding too.”

“Bianca…Rogers? Would I be right in assuming you’re here for Mack and Aidan’s wedding?”

She grinned at him. “You would indeed. Savvy mind you have there. Aidan’s my brother. You here for the same wedding?”

He grinned back, and the sheer warmth in his smile heated her blood. It had been a long time since a smile had affected her like that. “I am.”

“On the bride or groom’s side?”

“The groom. Although I know the bride too. We all go back a long time.”

It was her turn to look at him speculatively. “So you know the bride and groom, and you have for a while. It’s interesting that we’ve…uh…never met before. I thought I knew all of Danny’s mates.”

Brody took a long time to answer. Once again, Bee fancied she might be able to read his thoughts in those beautiful eyes but immediately decided she had to be wrong.

“Are you sure we’ve never met?” he asked finally. “You look…familiar.”

Bee shook her head. “Nope. I’d have remembered if we had. You’re not the type of person one would forget in a hurry.” He wasn’t the type of person she’d forget ever.

He tilted his head to the side, regarding her thoughtfully. He opened his mouth to say something, must have thought better of it, closed it again, then said, “Would you like to have a drink with me, Bianca?”

And just like that, Bianca’s mouth was drier that it had ever been. Her throat was parched too, as though she hadn’t had liquid in a year, at least. A drink with him was exactly what she wanted. Needed. “I’d love to.”

His smile was blinding. “Excellent.”

He gave her a swift once-over, making Bee instantly self-conscious. Wearing nothing but a bikini had seemed like a good idea in this heat, but having Brody’s gaze—brief as it was—take in every inch of her lily-white skin was a little inhibiting.

“Looks like you’re all ready for a swim,” he said. “Tell you what, I need to change, put on a pair of boardies. How about I meet you at the poolside bar in…ten minutes?”

Ten minutes? That felt like a veritable lifetime. “Ten minutes would be perf— No, shoot!” Bianca slapped her forehead. “Sorry, sorry. It won’t be perfect. I already have a meeting in ten minutes. Actually, more like one minute now, and if I’m late, Mack is gonna let me have it.” More like Kylie was gonna let her have it. The woman ran a tight ship. Her only instruction to Bee had been not to be late.

Uh, yeah. About that…

“Look,” she hastened to say, “I can’t do drinks. How about lunch instead? They serve a killer salad nicoise at the Seaspray Bistro.”

Brody wrinkled his nose at the very suggestion. “Tuna salad?”

She grinned at him. “Not a fan, huh? Me neither. But Mack’s friend recommended it to me, so I thought I’d recommend it to you.”

“How about a simple grilled cheese sandwich and a bottle of red wine instead?”

Bee’s jaw dropped. She couldn’t help it.

She and Rick had shared that exact meal on the night of their wedding. In the cheap hotel they’d chosen for their honeymoon. Gourmet food it hadn’t been, but Bee had never eaten anything more delicious.

She swallowed at the memory. “G-grilled cheese sounds really good.”

“To me too.” His smile was warm, but his eyes…

“Shall we say twelve thirty? At a table outside?” Aidan was arriving on the island then, so Mack would ensure they’d be done by that time.

“I’ll be waiting for you.”

As Bee waved goodbye and headed off to her meeting, she couldn’t help but think how incredibly appealing the idea of Brody Evans waiting for her sounded.

————-

Don’t forget, you can read the beginning of the chapter over at the Down Under Divas. And…you can purchase all three books at Samhain, or at your favorite ebookstore.

I do! (Or Bandicoot Cove: The Wedding releases today)

It’s been a long time coming, but Mack and Aidan’s big day is here.

If you’re not sure who Mack and Aidan are, well, they are the bride and groom of the biggest wedding of the year. The wedding taking place at the stunning, tropical Bilby Island, at the gorgeous, luxurious Bandicoot Cove resort.

And to celebrate, we have written three sexy, romantic love stories to make you go ‘Aaaaaaaah.”

And “Oooooh.”

And maybe “Ooooooh, yeah!”

So without further ado (because we really want you to get to the Ooooooh, yeah! parts) here they are. The three books that make up Bandicoot Cove: The Wedding:

A second chance at love is worth fighting for.

Bandicoot Cove: The Wedding, Book 1

Bianca Rogers is one signature away from finalizing her divorce. And she will finalize it just as soon as she gets home. But for this weekend, she’s putting her troubles aside and enjoying the gorgeous, sunlit luxury of Bandicoot Cove, the resort where her brother is getting married. The last thing she expects is to be knocked off her feet—literally—by gorgeous Brody Evans.

The fireworks are instantaneous. Brody is just her type: sexy, warm, friendly, and in the same boat as her: in the process of getting a divorce.

Spending time together is a mutual no-brainer. Attraction quickly grows to full-blown lust. But flying sparks come with increasingly personal conversations, and soon neither of them can ignore their past mistakes or the circumstances that have led them to the island.

Now it’s time to determine whether old hurts and sudden doubts will prevent love from leading them to a whole new happily ever after.

Warning: If you don’t believe in second chances, never thought it was possible to fall in love again and aren’t interested in scrumptious, hot love scenes, then this story probably isn’t for you. You’d be missing out – big time – but yeah…it’s probably not for you.

A photographer, a firefighter, a rake. Let the debauchery begin!

Bandicoot Cove: The Wedding, Book 2

When Kennedy bolted after a mind-blowing one-night stand with a sexy Australian firefighter, she never expected to be standing in front of him four months later on a tropical island resort. Naked, thanks to her phobia of butterflies.

Trouble is, she’s equally turned on by Luke and his hunky British cousin. Not exactly how she’d intended to spend her first day as Bandicoot Cove’s official photographer.

Luke never planned on falling for the feisty, flirty American he met at a New York bar. Now that he’s face to face with her again, he has two questions. Why did she run? And why can’t he stop thinking about sharing the woman of his dreams with his cousin?

Addison invited himself along on his cousin’s trip for a weekend of no-strings-attached sex. But he wants to get to know Kennedy on all levels. Seriously, this is no way for a rake to behave. And how the hell is he going to tell his cousin he’s interested in the very woman Luke can’t get out of his mind?

Warning: The setting sun isn’t the only thing heating up Bandicoot Cove, because when the word “threesome” gets thrown into the mix, it’s seduction on a global scale. (Note: No butterflies were scorched during scenes of burning passion.)

A new lover, an old flame, sultry moonlit nights. Why let inhibitions stand in the way?

Bandicoot Cove: The Wedding, Book 3

Two years ago, Hayley Bryant left Australia on a round-the-world odyssey that changed her life, and her attitude. After that, coming face to face with the man whose rejection sent her packing shouldn’t affect her at all, right?

Except there’s one thing that hasn’t changed—her former boss Mitchell Wood makes her burn as hot as ever. The difference is, Hayley’s now a grown woman who knows how to get what she wants, and she wants Mitch. Trouble is, she hasn’t come to her friend’s wedding alone. Her very sexy friend with benefits, Ty Butler, might pose a problem.

Business was always Mitch’s first love…at least until he hired his little sister’s friend as an intern. Pushing her away was the right thing to do, but now his sister’s wedding has Hayley re-entering his life—and the empty place in his heart. Soon he’s acting less like the consummate workaholic and more like a man crazy in love. But Hayley’s “plus one” is an unexpected obstacle.

Fortunately, Mitch has never been one to shy away from a little competition…

Warning: Bilby Island’s sensual spell strikes again. Book contains hot lovin’ made in beautiful tropical surrounds, some exhibitionism, voyeurism and bondage. Best read with a margarita in hand and the fan switched to high.

You are cordially invited to the wedding of the year

Bandicoot Cove’s Tropical Desires is now available

The first print book from the Bandicoot Cove series is now officially available!

Tropical Desires, the print anthology of Bandicoot Cove 1, includes stories by Lexxie Couper, Vivian Arend and myself. Read on for the blurb!

Luxurious, decadent, sensually indulgent…welcome to Bandicoot Cove.

Paradise Found by Vivian Arend
Paige has accepted the fact that her lovely, no-strings-attached affair with her two Australian lovers must end with her return to Canada. Trent and Mason have a different proposal in mind. And they hope like hell she doesn’t run.

Tropical Sin by Lexxie Couper
When McKenzie enlists the help of her BFF, Aiden, to snag an interview with incognito rock star Nick Blackthorne, she thinks it’s her ticket out of tabloid journalism. But it could be a ticket to heartbreak.

Island Idyll by Jess Dee
Sienna thought a getaway would help her get over her breakup with Ben. A fling with high school crush, Josh, is just what she needs. Until Ben shows up with a red-hot challenge to help her make an impossible choice.

Product Warnings: Contains drool-worthy heroes entirely focused on their woman’s pleasure, a tropical island beach, and a bar. What more do you need?

Tropical Desires is available now at Samhain, Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Happy reading,

Jess

Are you up to a tropical island holiday?

Quick. Tell us.

What is your most perfect, fantasy holiday? You know, the one that takes place in your mind. The one no one else knows about.

Where is it? Who is it with? What do you do there?

Well, Lexxie Couper and I would like to make that holiday a reality.

So, if you can’t afford the plane fare, we’re here to help…

See, we’re celebrating the release of Tropical Desires, the print anthology containing three scorching, smoldering, romantic stories all set on the tropical island resort of Bandicoot Cove

And how are we celebrating?

With prizes of course!

We want to give away one copy of the book PLUS ARCs of the THREE NEW (so new they haven’t even released yet) Bandicoot Cove books.

That’s right. One print book and three ebooks!

How do you win this amazing trip to tropical paradise?

Easy. Tell us the following in the comments section of the identical post on the International Heat blog:

1/ If you could go anywhere in the world on a holiday, where would you go?

2/ who would you go with?

Now here’s the twist for this question. Because all the stories in Tropical Desires are ménage books, you have to take TWO people with you on your fantasy trip. That’s right. Two.

Let your mind go wild. Indulge in the fantasy. And then tell us.

Hee hee hee.

If you want to know more about the books we’re offering, don’t be shy. Check them out here:

Tropical Desires at Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Samhain Publishing

Afternoon Rhapsody at Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Sunset Heat at Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Moonlight Mirage at Amazon or Barnes & Noble

GOOD LUCK!

The contest will run for the next two days.

Please remember to leave your email address in the comments, so we can notify you if you are the winner. Otherwise keep watching the International Heat Blog. We’ll post your name there.

Jess

Tropical Haze? It must be Bandicoot Cove

Just a week ago we revealed the stunning covers for the new Bandicoot Cove Anthology: The Wedding. Now we thought we’d tease you a little more, with a new cover…and a peak at the blurbs of the three novellas.

Yep, we have a print book coming next year, an anthology of the three stories: Afternoon Rhapsody, Sunset Heat and Moonlight Mirage.

Read on for your introduction to the tropical haze on Bilby Island.

TROPICAL HAZE: The Blurb

Steamy days, sultry nights, sinful fantasies. Welcome to Bandicoot Cove.

Afternoon Rhapsody by Jess Dee

As Bianca puts her pending divorce aside to enjoy her brother’s wedding, she unexpectedly falls in lust with Brody, a gorgeous man who’s also getting a divorce. However, personal revelations change what they thought they knew about their troubled pasts. And suddenly they wonder if it’s possible to move on.

Sunset Heat by Lexxie Couper

Kennedy never thought she’d be standing in front of Luke again. Naked, thanks to her butterfly phobia. He not only still lights her fire, so does his self-professed rake of a cousin.

Luke fell for Kennedy four months ago, yet he can’t stop thinking about sharing her with Addison. And Addison is shocked that he wants to know Kennedy on all levels. But can desire bring three people together? Or will it destroy any hope of happiness?

Moonlight Mirage by Sami Lee

At her friend’s wedding, Hayley is forced to face the former boss whose rejection sent her packing. Mitch makes her burn as hot as ever. Trouble is, she hasn’t come to the wedding alone.

Mitch knows he made a mistake by pushing his one-time intern away. Hayley’s “plus one”is an unexpected obstacle, but luckily Mitch has never shied away from a little competition…

———————-

If you’d like to read the full blurbs of each story, check out Lex and Sami’s personal blogs:

Lexxie

Sami

or read on for Afternoon Rhapsody…

Afternoon Rhapsody, The full blurb

A second chance at love is worth fighting for.

Bandicoot Cove: The Wedding, Book 1

Bianca Rogers is one signature away from finalizing her divorce. And she will finalize it just as soon as she gets home. But for this weekend, she’s putting her troubles aside and enjoying the gorgeous, sunlit luxury of Bandicoot Cove, the resort where her brother is getting married. The last thing she expects is to be knocked off her feet—literally—by gorgeous Brody Evans.

The fireworks are instantaneous. Brody is just her type: sexy, warm, friendly, and in the same boat as her: in the process of getting a divorce.

Spending time together is a mutual no-brainer. Attraction quickly grows to full-blown lust. But flying sparks come with increasingly personal conversations, and soon neither of them can ignore their past mistakes or the circumstances that have led them to the island.

Now it’s time to determine whether old hurts and sudden doubts will prevent love from leading them to a whole new happily ever after.

Warning: If you don’t believe in second chances, never thought it was possible to fall in love again and aren’t interested in scrumptious, hot love scenes, then this story probably isn’t for you. You’d be missing out – big time – but yeah…it’s probably not for you.

___________________________

Bandicoot Cove: The Wedding releases in e-format at Samhain on the 2cnd of August.

Afternoon Rhapsody is already up for pre-order from Amazon. Click here, if you’re interested.

Jess

Welcome back to Bandicoot Cove

There’s a wedding taking place at Bandicoot Cove.

On the 4th of September, 2012.

SAVE THE DATE

Keep watching the blog for more info about this special event. If you can’t wait to find out more pop on over to the Bandicoot Cove site and look around.

It’s Warming Up On Bilby Island

One wedding, three red hot affairs to last a lifetime. You don’t want to miss this celebration on Bilby Island.

Keep your eyes on this site for more details over the coming months.

From the staff at Bandicoot Cove Resort